men, i'm almost a soldier myself as i've stayed/lived in the barracks for about 26 years of my life(my dad was in the military). the question to ask yourself is: whats my motive of joining the army?-money or admiration for the uniform? if its the money,, then sorry,the pay is not good(about 65k or so)if its the uniform,then be reminded that we are in a civilian era and that they've got only little to offer you.but the final advice is to follow you mind, hey,someone has to do the job!

right choice bro.,they dont pay like oil companies but i must tell you,they pay well,(talking from experience),the benefits attached are so enormous.God help you, i do hope you are ready,if you are,welcome.b4 obj went,he gave all officers (u will fall into the cartegory) cars,aprt from cash----my guy,everything dey dia,money and suffer.

well,as an officer in the army,your life will have some meaning because the army respects its officers.its the rank and file that are treated like poo.their salary is very,very poor.right now a private in the nigerian army is paid 13 thousand naira a month.it may sound unbelieveable but it is true.i'll not advise even my enemy to join the army as a rank and file.i'll only do that if i notice there's almost no hope for that person,i mean if the person is a stark illiterate and does not have any discernible skills.but its better to open a provision store than to join the army as a rank and file.back to your question- as an officer you won't regret it.your salary is decent,you'll get the allowances the govt releases to you from time to time but as an other rank believe me your life is f----d up.good luck.

right choice bro.,they don't pay like oil companies but i must tell you,they pay well,(talking from experience),the benefits attached are so enormous.God help you, i do hope you are ready,if you are,welcome.before obj went,he gave all officers (u will fall into the cartegory) cars,aprt from cash----my guy,everything dey dia,money and suffer.

who said obj dashed officers cars? check ur information before postin. obj facilitated loans for officers who are expected to pay back over a period of years.

well,as an officer in the army,your life will have some meaning because the army respects its officers.

ur life may have some meanin not because the army respects its officers but becaus pple outside the army tend to respect officers

@postergo and apply to the army if u want to serve your country, but pray to God seriously. if u go to the army cos u want to get rich u hav 3 likely endings; either ur life remains miserable til u are lucky to get to were u can steal money OR u find yourself patronizing illegal and dangerous means to make yourself rich OR u get frustrated and leave before u achieve ur objective, cos the pay is not and will never be commensurate to your efforts, sacrifice, lack of freedom and expectations.

sorry, i'm not trying to discourage u, but the military of any nation is not were u get rich.so GOODLUCK

@postergo and apply to the army if u want to serve your country, but pray to God seriously. if u go to the army because u want to get rich u hav 3 likely endings; either your life remains miserable til u are lucky to get to were u can steal money OR u find yourself patronizing illegal and dangerous means to make yourself rich OR u get frustrated and leave before u achieve your objective, because the pay is not and will never be commensurate to your efforts, sacrifice, lack of freedom and expectations.

sorry, i'm not trying to discourage u, but the military of any nation is not were u get rich.so GOODLUCK

Poster, if you are interested in the job go ahead and apply.U wont get any vehicle though cos that program is over and done with unless they start another one.

The pay has however been improved for officers and soldiers alike, so u wont have to bother about that.

The only discouraging things about the armed forces is the fact that as a member you have sold your freedom and its kind of difficult to raise a family the way you may want to cos you will most likely be posted around the country and you cant keep moving your family with you.

Besides this, the job( as we call )is very interesting. You travel,meet people and may be kill too lol, just kidding DSSC guys dont get to kill they are tied to the office.

bros that was a wise thought but to be candid with u , u are in the wrong path. this is cos the salary in the Army (Armed Forces in general is nothing to write home about) the officers in the armed forces have so regards but its the rank and file they are treated like poo.their salary is very,very poor.right now a private in the nigerian army is paid 13 thousand naira a month, and the lowest officer rank collects about 37 thousand a month. it may sound unbelieveable but it is true.i'll not advise even my enemy to join the army as a rank and file.i'll only do that if i notice there's almost no hope for that person,i mean if the person is a stark illiterate and does not have any discernible skills.but its better to open a provision store than to join the army as a rank and file.back to your question- as an officer you won't regret it.your salary is decent,you'll get the allowances the govt releases to you from time to time but as an other rank believe me your life is f----d up, you will never get your allowances made for you from the government this is becuase the officers will take theirs and also take your own too. that is the corruption in the military for u. i also want to use this medium to beg the government and those in authority to pls help monitor and make sure the rank and file gets their due rights and allowances. this will go a long way to help the nigerian military and gives it a good name outside.good luck.

letz not forget, as it has been alluded to up top - joining the armed forces is not a job, its a service for one's country. U do it for the love of your country and not because you hope to get promoted through the ranks. Look at it this way, you could join today, get sent to say, darfur and be dead in a week. Seriously.

I live in the US and have watched TV specials showing military families lining up for free food as the government doesn't pay enough (I believe it's $20K to start but pls don't convert to naira as in $$, that isn't enough money). I have also watched another special showing russian soldiers begging for food on the streets. Yet, these are soldiers in the best armies in the world. Sorry to say, but if it is bad with them, why would a Nigerian soldier be any better?

If you want to join the military because you are probably unemployed and are frustrated with your life, I say you are better off hawking oranges. Remember this dictum, "do a job you love and you will never work a day in your life".

apart from all the response here i think you also need to go and get the proper information from the source (Military personnels). I know definitely the officers in the Army are paid well, don't know about the rest.

pips, obj did not give free cars, the money for the cars are being deducted from their salaries.if you want to go into short service, which core? how old are you? the catch phrase is short service. dont expert promotions rapidly like a regular combatant officer. what corp do you want to get into? its not all about the 'efizi' of the uniform. there is hard work involved, trust me you would get posted to places that you did not know exsisted in nigeria so bros, look before you leap.

@cherry i'll not advise even my enemy to join the army as a rank and file.i'll only do that if i notice there's almost no hope for that person,i mean if the person is a stark illiterate and does not have any discernible skills.but its better to open a provision store than to join the army as a rank and file.

, do ur reserach well before you generalise, the army has very learned men and women serving this country. you have more order ranks going back to school for their degree and dont forget that NDA has being upgraded to the status of a university, they award degrees there recognised by the nigerian universities commission, so pls watch ur utterances or better still do ur research well before you com yan opata for publisc site.

@ posterwhy not try any oil company around the world,joining the army is serious business.i hope you know that part of the application is the signing of your death bond,you can die in training or loose some vital part,if money is your motivation,please don't apply ,take my advice or you will be frustrated and may even use the uniform to raise funds.however ,think about what it feels like taking a bullet for an innocent Nigeria who is in danger,if the feeling is good,then come join up.if you can't do that ,then ,i think you may not fit in.army life if ha[/s]rd lif[s][color=#990000][/color]e.for hard men.a call for respectable gentlemen.good luck

AFTER READING THE RESPONSES OF SO MANY POSTERS ON THIS THREAD, I CANT HELP BEING FORCED TO REACT TO SO MANY HALF-TRUTHS AND MISINFORMATION PEOPLE WHO ARE IGNORANT ON ISSUES MAKE. IT WILL PAY EVERYBODY TO ALWAYS CONDUCT A LITTLE RESEARCH FROM PEOPLE THAT KNOW, OR BETTER STILL, THE PROFESSION INVOLVED, BEFORE MAKING WRONG AND IRRELEVANT COMMENTS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARITY AND EDUCATION, I WOULD MAKE SOME POINTS CLEAR, WITHOUT ANY BIAS.

FIRST OF ALL, AS A REGULAR COMBATANT NAVAL OFFICER WHO PASSED THROUGH THE PRESTIGIOUS NDA, I KNOW THAT AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT AM BEING PAID [b]RIGHT NOW!!. DO YOU GET EMPLOYED JUST TO GET RICH OR TO MAKE A GOOD, DECENT AND COMFORTABLE LIVING? WHATEVER YOUR ANSWER IS PUTS YOU IN THE REQUIRED CATEGORY. BUT I MUST TELL U THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEASURE UP, AND EVEN BETTER, THAN SOME OF MY NUMEROUS CIVILIAN CONTEMPORARIES WORKING IN OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, EVEN THE OIL AND GAS. ITS UP TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR DECISION ON THAT. OUR PAY HAS BEEN GREATLY CONSOLIDATED RECENTLY AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY AND APPRECIATIVE. IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO FIND OUT AND FEEL THE PULSE OF A MILITARY FRIEND, IF YOU HAVE ONE.

SECONDLY, I MUST AGREE WITH YOU THAT FAMILY ISSUES IS REALLY A PROBLEM IN THE MILITARY, IN TERMS OF OUT-STATION POSTINGS. HOWEVER, I MUST SAY THAT SOME POSTERS HAVE OVER EXAGGERATED THIS FACT. THERE IS HARDLY NO PROFESSION IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE SOME OCCASSIONAL SEPARATION FROM FAMILIES. THIS COULD BE IN FORM OF COURSES, BUSINESS TRIPS, INTERVIEWS, PROMOTION-RELATED APPOINTMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AMONGST OTHERS. IT IS NOT PECULIAR TO THE MILITARY ALONE. BUT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A WAY OUT, AT LEAST TO CURTAIL IT TO THE BAREST MINIMUM.

IN MY OWN CASE AS A NAVAL OFFICER, I STATIONED MY FAMILY IN LAGOS. THIS IS BECAUSE LAGOS HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS (ABOUT 90%). SO THERE IS ALWAYS A 90% CHANCE THAT ALL MY APPOINTMENTS WOULD BE IN LAGOS WHERE MY FAMILY IS LOCATED. IT IS NOT A RULE OF THE THUMB, BUT IT HAS WORKED FOR ME SO FAR. IT WOULD ALWAYS WORK IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH AND APPRECIATION WELL. HOWEVER, IF ONE IS APPOINTED OUTSIDE YOUR LOCATION, YOUR FAMILY DO NOT HAVE TO GO WITH U. YOU DONT HAVE TO DISRUPT YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION OR YOUR SPOUSE'S EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS BY MOVING THEM WITH YOU. YOUR ABSENCE WOULDNT LAST FOREVER, AT MOST 24 MONTHS YOU SHOULD BE BACK. MOREOVER THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PERIODS OF ANNUAL AND COMPASSIONATE LEAVE AND PASSES TO CUSHION THE EFFECT, AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.

I WILL ALSO WANT TO REACT ON THE 'CONTROVERSIAL' AND THE MUCH TOUTED CAR 'GIFT' GIVEN TO MILITARY OFFICERS BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT. FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, IT IS NOT A GIFT, IT IS A LOAN AND WE ARE PAYING DEARLY FOR IT MONTHLY, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I LOSE MONTHLY ON THE ACCOUNT OF THAT. HOWEVER AM NOT COMPLAINING BECAUSE IT WAS OPTIONAL FROM THE ONSET, IT WASNT COMPULSORY AND YOU HAD THE RIGHT TO REJECT IT. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO DID NOT COLLECT. SOME WHO WERE ENTITLED TO A HIGHER BRAND OF CAR OPTED FOR A LOWER CATEGORY DUE TO REPAYMENT BURDEN. SO NAIRALANDERS, BE BETTER INFORMED.

FURTHERMORE, TALKING ABOUT DEATH AND DYING, I DONT THINK THERE IS A PROFESSION THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MEASURE OF RISK THAT IS GRAVE ENOUGH TO CAUSE DEATH. EVEN SLEEPING IS RISKY BECAUSE ONE CAN DIE OF IDLENESS AND INACTIVITY. PLEASE BE MORE POSITIVE TO LIFE. IF ITS NOT YOUR TIME, EVEN IF A BULLET SPILLS OUT YOUR BRAINS, GOD CAN WORK A MIRACLE THROUGH A ROADSIDE CHEMIST (DRUG SELLER) AND YOU WOULD BE BACK ON YOUR FEET AGAIN. YOU DONT EVEN HAVE TO BE RUSHED TO ST NICHOLAS, HAVANA OR EKO HOSPITALS. IF YOU ARE A BANKER, HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF AN ARMED ROBBER BREAKS IN, OR EVEN ON YOUR WAY HOME IN TRAFFIC WHEN YOU CLOSE LATE? IF U ARE IN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR AND WORKING IN THE NIGER DELTA, DO U KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OFFSHORE ON THE RIG OR IF THE MILITANTS DECIDES TO PAY A VISIT TO YOUR FLOW STATION? AFTERALL SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED DURING 9/11 AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE WERE IN THEIR OFFICES. TO EVERY PROFESSION OR JOB, THERE IS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD CAPABLE OF KILLING SOMEONE UNEXPECTEDLY, NO ONE IS SAFER. I SERVED IN ECOMOG FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND CAME BACK SAFELY. I HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE NIGER DELTA FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, YET SOME PEOPLE CAME AND DIED WITHIN 3 WEEKS. I AM NOT BETTER, WISER OR STRONGER THAN THEM IN ANY WAY BUT AM ALIVE TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD. SO POSSIBILITY OF DEATH IS A FLIMSY EXCUSE TO RUN AWAY FROM THE MILITARY. LETS HAVE A MUCH POSITIVE OUTLOOK TO LIFE AND KNOW THAT WHEREVER WE ARE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

ON A FINAL NOTE, I MUST TRUTHFULLY ASSERT THAT THE MILITARY IS A NOBLE PROFESSION AND GONE ARE THOSE DAYS WHEN ONLY DROP OUTS, MEDIOCRES AND USELESS PEOPLE ARE FOUND THEREIN. INFACT NOWADAYS YOU CANT EVEN SURVIVE THE WIND OF CHANGE IF YOU ARE ONE. IN THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES, WE HAVE FIRST CLASS BRAINS, SKILLFULL ENGINEERS, BRILLANT DOCTORS, ERUDITE TACTICIANS, DAZZLING ACADEMICIANS, TALENTED NAVIGATORS, TESTED PILOTS, MAGNIFICIENT MARKSMEN, SUPERP MEN AND WOMEN OF NOBLE CHARACTER AND DISPOSITION. I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON. IN ANOTHER VEIN, BEING A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT WE ARE FAILURES WHERE EVEN THE MOST ADVANCED MILITARIES ARE LACKING. AS AN INSIDER, IT WOULD BE THE MOST UNFAIR COMPARISON TO MAKE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INTIMIDATING BIOGRAPHIES AND FEATS OF THE GENERALS AGWAI, KHOBE AND ADMIRALS OMBU, BOB-MANUEL, ISAH, AMAUCHE OF THIS WORLD, U WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE NOBLE MEN TREAD. WELL, EXCUSES TO ALMIGHTY QUOTA SYSTEM AND GEOPOLITICS OF THE NIGERIAN NATION WHICH HAVE REALLY DEVASTATED THE STRUCTURES OF OUR NATION AND RELEGATED HARDWORK AND MERIT TO THE BACKGROUND. WHATEVER THE CASE, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE OUR DESTINIES INTO OUR HAND AND UNLEARN ALL THE NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES WE HAVE INCULCATED OVER TIME FOR THE PURPOSE OF A BETTER FUTURE. WITH THIS IN LINE, EVERY ASPECT OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE, INCLUDING THE ARMED FORCES, WOULD BE BETTER FOR IT.

I HOPE SOMEBODY IS EDUCATED AND BETTER INFORMED BY MY INPUT.

@POSTERPLS GO AHEAD, JOIN US AND SERVE YOUR FATHERLAND. YOU ARE ON A RIGHT COURSE AND YOU WONT REGRET IT. YOU COULD GET RICH IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE MANY OFFICERS AND MEN ARE INDEED RICH, IF THAT IS WHAT U DESIRE IN A PROFESSION BUT DONT BE OVERAMBITIOUS. YOU COULD GET HURT AND BURN YOUR FINGERS BIG TIME!!!! YOU ARE MOST WELCOME ON BOARD A NOBLE PROFESSION MY BROTHER!!ONE LOVE.[/b]

@ posterwhy not try any oil company around the world,joining the army is serious business.i hope you know that part of the application is the signing of your death bond,you can die in training or loose some vital part,if money is your motivation,please don't apply ,take my advice or you will be frustrated and may even use the uniform to raise funds.however ,think about what it feels like taking a bullet for an innocent Nigeria who is in danger,if the feeling is good,then come join up.if you can't do that ,then ,i think you may not fit in.army life if ha[/s]rd lif[s][color=#990000][/color]e.for hard men.a call for respectable gentlemen.good luck

AFTER READING THE RESPONSES OF SO MANY POSTERS ON THIS THREAD, I CANT HELP BEING FORCED TO REACT TO SO MANY HALF-TRUTHS AND MISINFORMATION PEOPLE WHO ARE IGNORANT ON ISSUES MAKE. IT WILL PAY EVERYBODY TO ALWAYS CONDUCT A LITTLE RESEARCH FROM PEOPLE THAT KNOW, OR BETTER STILL, THE PROFESSION INVOLVED, BEFORE MAKING WRONG AND IRRELEVANT COMMENTS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARITY AND EDUCATION, I WOULD MAKE SOME POINTS CLEAR, WITHOUT ANY BIAS.

FIRST OF ALL, AS A REGULAR COMBATANT NAVAL OFFICER WHO PASSED THROUGH THE PRESTIGIOUS NDA, I KNOW THAT AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT AM BEING PAID [b]RIGHT NOW!!. DO YOU GET EMPLOYED JUST TO GET RICH OR TO MAKE A GOOD, DECENT AND COMFORTABLE LIVING? WHATEVER YOUR ANSWER IS PUTS YOU IN THE REQUIRED CATEGORY. BUT I MUST TELL You THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEASURE UP, AND EVEN BETTER, THAN SOME OF MY NUMEROUS CIVILIAN CONTEMPORARIES WORKING IN OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, EVEN THE OIL AND GAS. ITS UP TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR DECISION ON THAT. OUR PAY HAS BEEN GREATLY CONSOLIDATED RECENTLY AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY AND APPRECIATIVE. IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO FIND OUT AND FEEL THE PULSE OF A MILITARY FRIEND, IF YOU HAVE ONE.

SECONDLY, I MUST AGREE WITH YOU THAT FAMILY ISSUES IS REALLY A PROBLEM IN THE MILITARY, IN TERMS OF OUT-STATION POSTINGS. HOWEVER, I MUST SAY THAT SOME POSTERS HAVE OVER EXAGGERATED THIS FACT. THERE IS HARDLY NO PROFESSION IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE SOME OCCASSIONAL SEPARATION FROM FAMILIES. THIS COULD BE IN FORM OF COURSES, BUSINESS TRIPS, INTERVIEWS, PROMOTION-RELATED APPOINTMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AMONGST OTHERS. IT IS NOT PECULIAR TO THE MILITARY ALONE. BUT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A WAY OUT, AT LEAST TO CURTAIL IT TO THE BAREST MINIMUM.

IN MY OWN CASE AS A NAVAL OFFICER, I STATIONED MY FAMILY IN LAGOS. THIS IS BECAUSE LAGOS HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS (ABOUT 90%). SO THERE IS ALWAYS A 90% CHANCE THAT ALL MY APPOINTMENTS WOULD BE IN LAGOS WHERE MY FAMILY IS LOCATED. IT IS NOT A RULE OF THE THUMB, BUT IT HAS WORKED FOR ME SO FAR. IT WOULD ALWAYS WORK IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH AND APPRECIATION WELL. HOWEVER, IF ONE IS APPOINTED OUTSIDE YOUR LOCATION, YOUR FAMILY DO NOT HAVE TO GO WITH You. YOU DONT HAVE TO DISRUPT YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION OR YOUR SPOUSE'S EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS BY MOVING THEM WITH YOU. YOUR ABSENCE WOULDNT LAST FOREVER, AT MOST 24 MONTHS YOU SHOULD BE BACK. MOREOVER THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PERIODS OF ANNUAL AND COMPASSIONATE LEAVE AND PASSES TO CUSHION THE EFFECT, AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.

I WILL ALSO WANT TO REACT ON THE 'CONTROVERSIAL' AND THE MUCH TOUTED CAR 'GIFT' GIVEN TO MILITARY OFFICERS BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT. FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, IT IS NOT A GIFT, IT IS A LOAN AND WE ARE PAYING DEARLY FOR IT MONTHLY, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I LOSE MONTHLY ON THE ACCOUNT OF THAT. HOWEVER AM NOT COMPLAINING BECAUSE IT WAS OPTIONAL FROM THE ONSET, IT WASNT COMPULSORY AND YOU HAD THE RIGHT TO REJECT IT. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO DID NOT COLLECT. SOME WHO WERE ENTITLED TO A HIGHER BRAND OF CAR OPTED FOR A LOWER CATEGORY DUE TO REPAYMENT BURDEN. SO NAIRALANDERS, BE BETTER INFORMED.

FURTHERMORE, TALKING ABOUT DEATH AND DYING, I DONT THINK THERE IS A PROFESSION THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MEASURE OF RISK THAT IS GRAVE ENOUGH TO CAUSE DEATH. EVEN SLEEPING IS RISKY BECAUSE ONE CAN DIE OF IDLENESS AND INACTIVITY. PLEASE BE MORE POSITIVE TO LIFE. IF ITS NOT YOUR TIME, EVEN IF A BULLET SPILLS OUT YOUR BRAINS, GOD CAN WORK A MIRACLE THROUGH A ROADSIDE CHEMIST (DRUG SELLER) AND YOU WOULD BE BACK ON YOUR FEET AGAIN. YOU DONT EVEN HAVE TO BE RUSHED TO ST NICHOLAS, HAVANA OR EKO HOSPITALS. IF YOU ARE A BANKER, HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF AN ARMED ROBBER BREAKS IN, OR EVEN ON YOUR WAY HOME IN TRAFFIC WHEN YOU CLOSE LATE? IF You ARE IN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR AND WORKING IN THE NIGER DELTA, DO You KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OFFSHORE ON THE RIG OR IF THE MILITANTS DECIDES TO PAY A VISIT TO YOUR FLOW STATION? AFTERALL SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED DURING 9/11 AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE WERE IN THEIR OFFICES. TO EVERY PROFESSION OR JOB, THERE IS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD CAPABLE OF KILLING SOMEONE UNEXPECTEDLY, NO ONE IS SAFER. I SERVED IN ECOMOG FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND CAME BACK SAFELY. I HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE NIGER DELTA FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, YET SOME PEOPLE CAME AND DIED WITHIN 3 WEEKS. I AM NOT BETTER, WISER OR STRONGER THAN THEM IN ANY WAY BUT AM ALIVE TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD. SO POSSIBILITY OF DEATH IS A FLIMSY EXCUSE TO RUN AWAY FROM THE MILITARY. LETS HAVE A MUCH POSITIVE OUTLOOK TO LIFE AND KNOW THAT WHEREVER WE ARE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

ON A FINAL NOTE, I MUST TRUTHFULLY ASSERT THAT THE MILITARY IS A NOBLE PROFESSION AND GONE ARE THOSE DAYS WHEN ONLY DROP OUTS, MEDIOCRES AND USELESS PEOPLE ARE FOUND THEREIN. INFACT NOWADAYS YOU CANT EVEN SURVIVE THE WIND OF CHANGE IF YOU ARE ONE. IN THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES, WE HAVE FIRST CLASS BRAINS, SKILLFULL ENGINEERS, BRILLANT DOCTORS, ERUDITE TACTICIANS, DAZZLING ACADEMICIANS, TALENTED NAVIGATORS, TESTED PILOTS, MAGNIFICIENT MARKSMEN, SUPERP MEN AND WOMEN OF NOBLE CHARACTER AND DISPOSITION. I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON. IN ANOTHER VEIN, BEING A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT WE ARE FAILURES WHERE EVEN THE MOST ADVANCED MILITARIES ARE LACKING. AS AN INSIDER, IT WOULD BE THE MOST UNFAIR COMPARISON TO MAKE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INTIMIDATING BIOGRAPHIES AND FEATS OF THE GENERALS AGWAI, KHOBE AND ADMIRALS OMBU, BOB-MANUEL, ISAH, AMAUCHE OF THIS WORLD, You WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE NOBLE MEN TREAD. WELL, EXCUSES TO ALMIGHTY QUOTA SYSTEM AND GEOPOLITICS OF THE NIGERIAN NATION WHICH HAVE REALLY DEVASTATED THE STRUCTURES OF OUR NATION AND RELEGATED HARDWORK AND MERIT TO THE BACKGROUND. WHATEVER THE CASE, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE OUR DESTINIES INTO OUR HAND AND UNLEARN ALL THE NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES WE HAVE INCULCATED OVER TIME FOR THE PURPOSE OF A BETTER FUTURE. WITH THIS IN LINE, EVERY ASPECT OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE, INCLUDING THE ARMED FORCES, WOULD BE BETTER FOR IT.

I HOPE SOMEBODY IS EDUCATED AND BETTER INFORMED BY MY INPUT.

@POSTERPLS GO AHEAD, JOIN US AND SERVE YOUR FATHERLAND. YOU ARE ON A RIGHT COURSE AND YOU WONT REGRET IT. YOU COULD GET RICH IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE MANY OFFICERS AND MEN ARE INDEED RICH, IF THAT IS WHAT You DESIRE IN A PROFESSION BUT DONT BE OVERAMBITIOUS. YOU COULD GET HURT AND BURN YOUR FINGERS BIG TIME!!!! YOU ARE MOST WELCOME ON BOARD A NOBLE PROFESSION MY BROTHER!!ONE LOVE.[/b]

your write up is nice,but you get time ooohyou can be blogging and getting some extra pay.

AFTER READING THE RESPONSES OF SO MANY POSTERS ON THIS THREAD, I CANT HELP BEING FORCED TO REACT TO SO MANY HALF-TRUTHS AND MISINFORMATION PEOPLE WHO ARE IGNORANT ON ISSUES MAKE. IT WILL PAY EVERYBODY TO ALWAYS CONDUCT A LITTLE RESEARCH FROM PEOPLE THAT KNOW, OR BETTER STILL, THE PROFESSION INVOLVED, BEFORE MAKING WRONG AND IRRELEVANT COMMENTS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARITY AND EDUCATION, I WOULD MAKE SOME POINTS CLEAR, WITHOUT ANY BIAS.

FIRST OF ALL, AS A REGULAR COMBATANT NAVAL OFFICER WHO PASSED THROUGH THE PRESTIGIOUS NDA, I KNOW THAT AM VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT AM BEING PAID [b]RIGHT NOW!!. DO YOU GET EMPLOYED JUST TO GET RICH OR TO MAKE A GOOD, DECENT AND COMFORTABLE LIVING? WHATEVER YOUR ANSWER IS PUTS YOU IN THE REQUIRED CATEGORY. BUT I MUST TELL You THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEASURE UP, AND EVEN BETTER, THAN SOME OF MY NUMEROUS CIVILIAN CONTEMPORARIES WORKING IN OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, EVEN THE OIL AND GAS. ITS UP TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR DECISION ON THAT. OUR PAY HAS BEEN GREATLY CONSOLIDATED RECENTLY AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY AND APPRECIATIVE. IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO FIND OUT AND FEEL THE PULSE OF A MILITARY FRIEND, IF YOU HAVE ONE.

SECONDLY, I MUST AGREE WITH YOU THAT FAMILY ISSUES IS REALLY A PROBLEM IN THE MILITARY, IN TERMS OF OUT-STATION POSTINGS. HOWEVER, I MUST SAY THAT SOME POSTERS HAVE OVER EXAGGERATED THIS FACT. THERE IS HARDLY NO PROFESSION IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE SOME OCCASSIONAL SEPARATION FROM FAMILIES. THIS COULD BE IN FORM OF COURSES, BUSINESS TRIPS, INTERVIEWS, PROMOTION-RELATED APPOINTMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AMONGST OTHERS. IT IS NOT PECULIAR TO THE MILITARY ALONE. BUT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A WAY OUT, AT LEAST TO CURTAIL IT TO THE BAREST MINIMUM.

IN MY OWN CASE AS A NAVAL OFFICER, I STATIONED MY FAMILY IN LAGOS. THIS IS BECAUSE LAGOS HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS (ABOUT 90%). SO THERE IS ALWAYS A 90% CHANCE THAT ALL MY APPOINTMENTS WOULD BE IN LAGOS WHERE MY FAMILY IS LOCATED. IT IS NOT A RULE OF THE THUMB, BUT IT HAS WORKED FOR ME SO FAR. IT WOULD ALWAYS WORK IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH AND APPRECIATION WELL. HOWEVER, IF ONE IS APPOINTED OUTSIDE YOUR LOCATION, YOUR FAMILY DO NOT HAVE TO GO WITH You. YOU DONT HAVE TO DISRUPT YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION OR YOUR SPOUSE'S EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS BY MOVING THEM WITH YOU. YOUR ABSENCE WOULDNT LAST FOREVER, AT MOST 24 MONTHS YOU SHOULD BE BACK. MOREOVER THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PERIODS OF ANNUAL AND COMPASSIONATE LEAVE AND PASSES TO CUSHION THE EFFECT, AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.

I WILL ALSO WANT TO REACT ON THE 'CONTROVERSIAL' AND THE MUCH TOUTED CAR 'GIFT' GIVEN TO MILITARY OFFICERS BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT. FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, IT IS NOT A GIFT, IT IS A LOAN AND WE ARE PAYING DEARLY FOR IT MONTHLY, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I LOSE MONTHLY ON THE ACCOUNT OF THAT. HOWEVER AM NOT COMPLAINING BECAUSE IT WAS OPTIONAL FROM THE ONSET, IT WASNT COMPULSORY AND YOU HAD THE RIGHT TO REJECT IT. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO DID NOT COLLECT. SOME WHO WERE ENTITLED TO A HIGHER BRAND OF CAR OPTED FOR A LOWER CATEGORY DUE TO REPAYMENT BURDEN. SO NAIRALANDERS, BE BETTER INFORMED.

FURTHERMORE, TALKING ABOUT DEATH AND DYING, I DONT THINK THERE IS A PROFESSION THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MEASURE OF RISK THAT IS GRAVE ENOUGH TO CAUSE DEATH. EVEN SLEEPING IS RISKY BECAUSE ONE CAN DIE OF IDLENESS AND INACTIVITY. PLEASE BE MORE POSITIVE TO LIFE. IF ITS NOT YOUR TIME, EVEN IF A BULLET SPILLS OUT YOUR BRAINS, GOD CAN WORK A MIRACLE THROUGH A ROADSIDE CHEMIST (DRUG SELLER) AND YOU WOULD BE BACK ON YOUR FEET AGAIN. YOU DONT EVEN HAVE TO BE RUSHED TO ST NICHOLAS, HAVANA OR EKO HOSPITALS. IF YOU ARE A BANKER, HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF AN ARMED ROBBER BREAKS IN, OR EVEN ON YOUR WAY HOME IN TRAFFIC WHEN YOU CLOSE LATE? IF You ARE IN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR AND WORKING IN THE NIGER DELTA, DO You KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OFFSHORE ON THE RIG OR IF THE MILITANTS DECIDES TO PAY A VISIT TO YOUR FLOW STATION? AFTERALL SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED DURING 9/11 AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE WERE IN THEIR OFFICES. TO EVERY PROFESSION OR JOB, THERE IS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD CAPABLE OF KILLING SOMEONE UNEXPECTEDLY, NO ONE IS SAFER. I SERVED IN ECOMOG FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND CAME BACK SAFELY. I HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE NIGER DELTA FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, YET SOME PEOPLE CAME AND DIED WITHIN 3 WEEKS. I AM NOT BETTER, WISER OR STRONGER THAN THEM IN ANY WAY BUT AM ALIVE TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD. SO POSSIBILITY OF DEATH IS A FLIMSY EXCUSE TO RUN AWAY FROM THE MILITARY. LETS HAVE A MUCH POSITIVE OUTLOOK TO LIFE AND KNOW THAT WHEREVER WE ARE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

ON A FINAL NOTE, I MUST TRUTHFULLY ASSERT THAT THE MILITARY IS A NOBLE PROFESSION AND GONE ARE THOSE DAYS WHEN ONLY DROP OUTS, MEDIOCRES AND USELESS PEOPLE ARE FOUND THEREIN. INFACT NOWADAYS YOU CANT EVEN SURVIVE THE WIND OF CHANGE IF YOU ARE ONE. IN THE NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES, WE HAVE FIRST CLASS BRAINS, SKILLFULL ENGINEERS, BRILLANT DOCTORS, ERUDITE TACTICIANS, DAZZLING ACADEMICIANS, TALENTED NAVIGATORS, TESTED PILOTS, MAGNIFICIENT MARKSMEN, SUPERP MEN AND WOMEN OF NOBLE CHARACTER AND DISPOSITION. I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON. IN ANOTHER VEIN, BEING A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT WE ARE FAILURES WHERE EVEN THE MOST ADVANCED MILITARIES ARE LACKING. AS AN INSIDER, IT WOULD BE THE MOST UNFAIR COMPARISON TO MAKE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INTIMIDATING BIOGRAPHIES AND FEATS OF THE GENERALS AGWAI, KHOBE AND ADMIRALS OMBU, BOB-MANUEL, ISAH, AMAUCHE OF THIS WORLD, You WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE NOBLE MEN TREAD. WELL, EXCUSES TO ALMIGHTY QUOTA SYSTEM AND GEOPOLITICS OF THE NIGERIAN NATION WHICH HAVE REALLY DEVASTATED THE STRUCTURES OF OUR NATION AND RELEGATED HARDWORK AND MERIT TO THE BACKGROUND. WHATEVER THE CASE, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE OUR DESTINIES INTO OUR HAND AND UNLEARN ALL THE NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES WE HAVE INCULCATED OVER TIME FOR THE PURPOSE OF A BETTER FUTURE. WITH THIS IN LINE, EVERY ASPECT OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE, INCLUDING THE ARMED FORCES, WOULD BE BETTER FOR IT.

I HOPE SOMEBODY IS EDUCATED AND BETTER INFORMED BY MY INPUT.

@POSTERPLS GO AHEAD, JOIN US AND SERVE YOUR FATHERLAND. YOU ARE ON A RIGHT COURSE AND YOU WONT REGRET IT. YOU COULD GET RICH IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE MANY OFFICERS AND MEN ARE INDEED RICH, IF THAT IS WHAT You DESIRE IN A PROFESSION BUT DONT BE OVERAMBITIOUS. YOU COULD GET HURT AND BURN YOUR FINGERS BIG TIME!!!! YOU ARE MOST WELCOME ON BOARD A NOBLE PROFESSION MY BROTHER!!ONE LOVE.[/b]

Believe me admiral. You have spoken well!

have come to realise that most people these days just open their mouths - in this case their 'fingers' - and say or type anything that wants to come out. . , It is after that, that they think!

I can't help but make a comment to your post. I neither have the desire to join the armed forces now, later nor directly know anyone who's interested. But your response to the original post is commendable. Quoting gbolio4 "most people these days just open their mouths - in this case their 'fingers' - and say or type anything that wants to come out. " - this captures my outlook especially where people just feel they ought to write just anything in response to a serious post. Seeing people respond with one-liners such as 'lol' 'lmao' ' ' and some other out-of place responses, it can't help but cross my mind - 'why do they bother in the first place"

It is obvious from your post that you are well informed about the topic on which you chose to post and the level of details and organisation of your response shows your efforts in getting your point across. Kudos to you. I believe this would not be far from a true reflection of how you do things in everyday life. To a very large extent, the way people write in their posts says a lot about them.

@hbrednic - in response to "your write up is nice,but you get time oooh"

isn't what is worth doing at all worth doing well? To me it's time well spent and i believe the poster would be better informed with v/admiral's post. Regards

. I HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE NIGER DELTA FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, YET SOME PEOPLE CAME AND DIED WITHIN 3 WEEKS. I AM NOT BETTER, WISER OR STRONGER THAN THEM IN ANY WAY BUT AM ALIVE TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD. SO POSSIBILITY OF DEATH IS A FLIMSY EXCUSE TO RUN AWAY FROM THE MILITARY. LETS HAVE A MUCH POSITIVE OUTLOOK TO LIFE AND KNOW THAT WHEREVER WE ARE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN..

V/Admiral just made life in the Nigerian Army so simple with his computer.SHUN SIR!!!

For those saying privates in the Nigerian Army earn 13k a month and 2Lt end 37k, its not true. Right now a private in the Armed forces(Army, Navy & Air force) earns about 31k a month and a 2Lt earns about. Some junior officers in the military especially those who are pilots in the airforce more than some people who work in banks as contract staff (HND holders) presently. Some of them earn as high as 150k in a month; and remember no NEPA and water bills to settle; and no house rent to pay to any landlord.